Yesterday a judge told him to return £80,000 of the money he stole or face two more years’ jail.

In one case, Arnold took £174,000 of the £300,000 compensation paid to client Robert McCloy after a road accident. Swansea Crown Court heard how he was trusted to look after the payout but stole it for himself.

The court heard Arnold, of Pentwyn, Cardiff, also conned another client out of £30,000 over a house sale in London.